Written Answers Tuesday 22 March 2005

Scottish Executive

Alcohol Misuse

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to restrict the use of special offers at off-licences and supermarkets in a similar way to proposed restrictions on happy hours in public houses.

Tavish Scott: At present there is no firm evidence available to link binge drinking with consumption from the off-sales sector. However, the Scottish Executive is committed to conduct further research into this matter and will discuss its concerns with the licensed trade and Alcohol Focus Scotland.

  The Licensing (Scotland) Bill, published on Tuesday 1 March, includes a power which would permit ministers to extend the provisions concerning irresponsible drinks promotions to off-licences and supermarkets if, following further consideration, this was found to be appropriate.

Bridges

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-11539 by Nicol Stephen on 16 November 2004, when the business case on the four bridges was requested from Renfrewshire Council and what information was sought.

Nicol Stephen: At a meeting between officials of the Scottish Executive and Renfrewshire Council in May 2002, it was suggested that the council might submit a business case setting out in detail the issues surrounding the repair and maintenance of four bridges in their area. The contents of such a business case are a matter for the council, but we would expect it to include details such as the condition of the bridges, proposals and costings for remedial works, and commentary on the role of the bridges within the road network.

Bridges

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-11539 by Nicol Stephen on 16 November 2004, what further correspondence on the need for a business case on the four bridges was exchanged with Renfrewshire Council.

Nicol Stephen: The leader of Renfrewshire Council wrote to me on 16 November 2004, again making the case for additional funding support to address the works necessary on three of the bridges in their area. I replied emphasising that while this is a matter for the council in the first instance, the Executive has already committed significant additional funding to all councils to address the backlog of repairs and maintenance on the non-trunk road network. In addition, an extra £35 million per year will be made available to the new statutory Regional Transport Partnerships from April 2006, to invest in roads and public transport projects.

  In addition, officials met on 12 January to discuss the current position, when it was again suggested that the council should prepare a more detailed assessment of each of the three bridges concerned, including fully costed proposals for remedial works. The council’s Head of Roads has subsequently written to confirm that the council is currently working on such an assessment.

Citizens Advice Bureaux

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the claim by Citizens Advice Scotland that 79% of forms issued by the Department for Work and Pensions as a consequence of the reorganisation of job centres refer clients to their local citizens advice bureau and increased pressure on bureaux, what additional funding the Executive will provide to meet increased demand.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive is aware of the excellent work done by Citizens Advice Bureaux across Scotland. Core funding for Citizens Advice Bureaux is a matter for local authorities, who are best placed to decide on the allocation of resources according to the needs of their particular areas. The Executive will be providing local authorities with almost £8.1 billion in 2005-06 to help them fund core services such as Citizens Advice Bureaux.

Deer Commission

Alex Fergusson (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many responses were received by the Deer Commission for Scotland to the recent close season consultation prior to the initial cut-off date of 4 February 2005 and how many were received after that date but before the extended deadline.

Lewis Macdonald: Responses received to the initial cut-off date of 4 February totalled 1,155 and a further 39 responses were received in the extended deadline period to 25 February.

Education

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that increases in the premiums for insurance cover for businesses which provide outdoor education are a barrier to the provision of outdoor education experiences for young people; whether it will commission research into this field, and, in particular, whether it will issue a questionnaire to businesses providing outdoor education to obtain information on the costs of such cover and further details of their outdoor education activities in order to assess the extent to which this is an issue.

Patricia Ferguson: We share the general concern over increases in the cost of liability insurance premiums. The level of premium costs is of course an issue for the insurance market as a whole. We keep in touch with the work of the Insurance Cover Working Group, established by the UK Government, to act as a forum for on-going dialogue with the insurance industry and other interests. We are aware that some commercial providers of outdoor activities have concerns about the impact of increased insurance premiums. However, we have no plans to commission research or conduct a survey of outdoor education businesses. Our contacts with outdoor education interests do not suggest that the cost of insurance cover impacts on the ability of local authorities to locate and access enough suitable providers of outdoor education activities.

Emergency Planning

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how many briefings the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions conducted in Scotland in (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001, (d) 2002, (e) 2003 and (f) 2004 as part of civil contingency preparations.

Nicol Stephen: This information is not held by the Scottish Executive.

Europe

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister or any other Scottish Minister plans to meet Danuta Hubner, European Regional Commissioner, and, if so, what the subject of the discussions will be.

Mr Jim Wallace: Arrangements are currently being made for me to meet with Commissioner Hubner when range of issues will be discussed, particularly the future of European Structural Funds after 2006.

Ferry Services

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will not make a ministerial statement or lodge a motion for debate on the future of the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services and, in particular, the issue of tendering and whether tendering is necessary, until such time as there has been a reasonable opportunity for those MSPs who wish to hold a meeting with the European Commission officials to do so and whether the Minister for Transport will discuss the timing of any such statement or debate with MSPs from opposition parties.

Nicol Stephen: During the parliamentary debate on ferry services on 8 December 2004, the Parliament expressed concerns regarding the tendering process. I agreed to discuss these concerns with the European Commission and raised this issue with the European Transport Commissioner, M Barrot, when I met him in Brussels on 9 December. Following that meeting I wrote to M Barrot asking whether there was any way, within the terms of European law to allow the Clyde and Hebrides services to continue to be delivered on a subsidised basis without the need to tender. Further discussions are taking place between the Executive and the European Commission and I will report back to Parliament on this issue as soon as possible.

  I appreciate members’ concerns on this issue and propose to hold appropriate consultations with all MSPs with an interest.

Freight

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set out the methodology to be applied for Freight Facilities Grants where the operation is cross-boundary.

Nicol Stephen: The standard procedure for handling cross-border Freight Facilities Grant (FFG) applications is for the assessment process to be undertaken by the administering authority in the country in which the capital expenditure will take place and for any award of grant to be funded by that authority. The environmental benefits generated by saving lorry miles in England and Wales can be taken into account by the Executive.

  If a cross-border rail FFG project involves capital expenditure in Scotland, as well as England or Wales, the expenditure in Scotland would be funded by the Scottish Executive, any expenditure in England by, at present, the Strategic Rail Authority (depending on resource availability) and any expenditure in Wales by the Welsh Assembly Government.

  If a cross-border water FFG project involves capital expenditure in Scotland, as well as England or Wales, the expenditure in Scotland would normally be funded by the Scottish Executive, any expenditure in England would be funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) and any expenditure in Wales would be funded by the Welsh Assembly Government. However, the DfT can contribute to the funding of water FFG projects in Scotland and have done so in the past.

Justice

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make an announcement on what action it will take as a result of the McInnes Report on the review of summary justice.

Cathy Jamieson: Smarter Justice, Safer Communities , which contains details of our proposals for reforms to the summary justice system, is being published today. Details of our proposals will be sent to all key stakeholders today and copies will be lodged in the Parliament’s reference centre (Bib. number 35821). The paper is also available online at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/about/JD/CP/00019008/Homepage.aspx .

Ministerial Correspondence

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will reply to my letter of 11 January 2005 regarding flooding at Stirling Village, Peterhead.

Nicol Stephen: I replied to your letter of 11 January 2005 on 21 February 2005.

Noise Pollution

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the arrangements for measuring noise disturbance from aircraft, particularly in respect of helicopter noise.

Lewis Macdonald: The Executive is presently consulting on proposals to implement the EC Environmental Noise Directive through regulations to be laid before the Scottish Parliament later this year. Implementation of the directive in practice will include the noise mapping of all major airports, including Aberdeen, by 30 June 2007 and, if appropriate, follow-up action plans by June 2008.

Rail Services

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the performance of First ScotRail.

Nicol Stephen: First ScotRail must perform well in three key areas: punctuality, service quality and delivery against the committed £40 million of expenditure on improvements. First ScotRail has made good progress in turning around the declining levels of punctuality experienced in 2004, although the levels of performance overall on the Scottish Network are still unacceptably low. The Scottish Executive has made clear to the franchisee and its industry partners that further improvement is required in train punctuality and the reliability of the network. On service quality, First ScotRail has responded well to the stricter quality regime in the new franchise, with improvements at stations and on trains. On the committed expenditure, good progress has been made and plans are currently being finalised which will see significant investment on new facilities, particularly at stations, over the next 12 months.

Rail Services

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the call centre for First ScotRail enquiries will be open for business.

Nicol Stephen: First ScotRail has had customer contact facilities in place since the commencement of the franchise last October. The franchise agreement does, however, require the opening of a new customer contact centre during the first year of the franchise to provide retailing and information provision services, including for the disabled.

Rail Services

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has the competence to establish a rail passengers’ committee to represent the interests of passengers; if so, whether it will establish such a committee, and whether it will confer on it legal powers identical in substance to those of the current rail passengers’ committee which is scheduled to be discontinued by the Railways Bill.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish ministers have the competence to establish a rail passengers’ committee in Scotland.

  Passenger representation will continue to have an important role in Scotland. We are considering the best arrangements for achieving that.

Rail Services

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the call centre for First ScotRail enquiries will be located in Scotland.

Nicol Stephen: The franchise agreement requires that First ScotRail’s customer care centre, when it is opened, is located in Scotland. Additionally First ScotRail has made a commitment to the centre remaining in Scotland throughout the term of the franchise.

Rail Services

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to set aside funds to compensate train operating companies in the event of industrial disputes on the railways.

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any proposals to waive penalty payments for train operating companies involved in industrial disputes.

Nicol Stephen: Consideration is being given to all matters pertaining to the proposed transfer of responsibility for the Scottish passenger rail franchise from the Strategic Rail Authority to the Scottish Ministers.

Rail Services

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive where responsibility will lie for the collection of penalty payments from train operating companies in Scotland once the UK Railways Bill comes into force.

Nicol Stephen: Penalty payments are a contractual element of the ScotRail franchise agreement. Following the enactment of the Railways Bill the responsibility for the ScotRail franchise will pass from the Strategic Rail Authority to the Scottish ministers.

Rail Services

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will be assuming powers previously employed by the Strategic Rail Authority in respect of providing compensation for loss of revenue arising from industrial disputes.

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will be assuming powers previously employed by the Strategic Rail Authority in respect of waiving penalty payments for train operators involved in industrial disputes.

Nicol Stephen: Compensation to train operating companies is an element of the ScotRail franchise agreement. Following the enactment of the Railways Bill the responsibility for the ScotRail franchise will pass from the Strategic Rail Authority to the Scottish ministers.

Rail Services

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will be assuming powers previously employed by the Strategic Rail Authority in respect of authorising pay and conditions agreements in the last 12 months of a franchise.

Nicol Stephen: Authorisation of pay and conditions agreements in the last 12 months of a franchise is an element of the ScotRail franchise agreement. Following the enactment of the Railways Bill the responsibility for the ScotRail franchise will pass from the Strategic Rail Authority to the Scottish ministers.

Road Accidents

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) fatal and (b) serious road accidents have occurred in which speed was a significant factor in each police board area in each of the last five years involving (i) cars, (ii) motorcycles and (iii) HGVs, showing the year-on-year percentage change in each case.

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) fatal and (b) serious road accidents have occurred in which speed was a significant factor in each police board area in each of the last five years, showing the year-on-year percentage change.

Nicol Stephen: Data about injury road accidents are collected by the police and reported to the Scottish Executive using the Stats 19 statistical report form.

  Prior to January 2005, the Stats 19 returns did not record the causes of the accidents. Under a pilot scheme, 15 police forces across Great Britain voluntarily submitted information on contributory factors to accidents along with their Stats 19 returns. However, it is not possible to use the pilot contributory factor data to provide figures which are representative of accidents in Scotland because only two Scottish police forces took part in the scheme. An article which provides some of the overall results of the trial is available on the Department for Transport website at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_rdsafety/documents/page/dft_rdsafety_031458.pdf.

  With effect from 1 January 2005, a new set of questions on contributory factors was added to the Stats 19 injury road accident reporting system. Information about contributory factors should henceforth be supplied by all police forces for personal injury accidents which are reported either (a) following attendance at the scene by a police officer or (b) by a member of the public to police staff at a police station. There are separate codes for "exceeding speed limit" and "travelling too fast for conditions". However, it should be noted that the new information reflects the reporting officer’s opinion at the time of reporting, and is not necessarily the result of extensive investigation. Subsequent enquiries could lead to a change in the opinion of the reporting officer. There may also be accidents for which the reporting officer cannot identify any contributory factors.

Rural Communities

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the number of (a) shops, (b) banks, (c) post offices and (d) other facilities there have been in rural communities in each local authority area in each of the last five years.

Mr Jim Wallace: The following table shows the number of shops, banks, post offices and other businesses in rural areas in Scotland, and the employment of these businesses. The data is for 1999-2003 and is split by local authority.

  Rural areas are defined as settlements with a population of less than 3,000.

  Number of Businesses Located in Rural Areas and Employment, by Local Authority Area and Business Type, 1999-2003

  

Local Authority
Business Type
 
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003


Aberdeen City 
Shop 
Businesses
15
15
20
20
20


Employment
*
*
50
70
60


Bank 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
0
0
0
0
0


Post Office 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
0
0
0
0
0


Other 
Businesses
235
240
245
265
270


Employment
*
*
2,590
2,260
2,850


Total 
Businesses
250
260
265
285
290


Employment
2,820
2,280
2,650
2,330
2,910


Aberdeenshire 
Shop 
Businesses
425
440
405
505
520


Employment
1,620
1,590
1,370
2,280
2,270


Bank 
Businesses
10
10
10
15
20


Employment
*
*
*
*
*


Post Office 
Businesses
5
10
10
10
10


Employment
*
*
*
*
*


Other 
Businesses
4,370
4,510
4,635
6,815
7,015


Employment
16,610
17,880
18,500
27,620
27,840


Total 
Businesses
4,810
4,970
5,060
7,345
7,565


Employment
18,320
19,580
19,990
30,050
30,250


Angus 
Shop 
Businesses
85
95
85
85
90


Employment
380
430
370
370
400


Bank 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
0
0
0
0
0


Post Office 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
0
0
0
0
0


Other 
Businesses
1,470
1,480
1,480
1,465
1,440


Employment
6,550
6,620
6,350
6,440
6,400


Total 
Businesses
1,560
1,575
1,565
1,550
1,525


Employment
6,920
7,050
6,720
6,810
6,800


Argyll and Bute 
Shop 
Businesses
265
265
250
265
280


Employment
1,030
1,030
930
1,050
1,060


Bank 
Businesses
5
5
5
5
5


Employment
*
*
*
*
*


Post Office 
Businesses
25
25
25
25
25


Employment
50
50
50
60
50


Other 
Businesses
2,335
2,340
2,360
2,355
2,320


Employment
*
*
*
*
*


Total 
Businesses
2,630
2,635
2,640
2,655
2,630


Employment
9,580
9,420
9,810
9,750
9,920


Clackmannanshire 
Shop 
Businesses
15
15
15
15
20


Employment
*
*
*
*
50


Bank 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
0
0
0
0
0


Post Office 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
0
0
0
0
0


Other 
Businesses
145
150
150
155
165


Employment
*
*
*
*
1,100


Total 
Businesses
155
165
165
170
185


Employment
1,680
2,340
1,050
1,100
1,160


Dumfries and Galloway 
Shop 
Businesses
365
365
345
350
350


Employment
1,320
1,310
1,350
1,400
1,440


Bank 
Businesses
10
10
10
10
15


Employment
*
*
*
*
*


Post Office 
Businesses
15
15
10
15
10


Employment
*
*
*
*
*


Other 
Businesses
4,280
4,250
4,290
4,325
4,370


Employment
17,670
17,420
16,930
17,370
17,500


Total 
Businesses
4,665
4,640
4,655
4,700
4,745


Employment
19,090
18,820
18,370
18,870
19,070


Dundee City 
Shop 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
*
0
*
0
0


Bank 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
0
0
0
0
0


Post Office 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
0
0
0
0
0


Other 
Businesses
20
15
20
20
20


Employment
*
*
*
480
440


Total 
Businesses
20
15
25
25
20


Employment
250
*
450
480
440


East Ayrshire 
Shop 
Businesses
140
135
125
130
130


Employment
860
930
800
480
890


Bank 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
0
0
0
0
0


Post Office 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
5


Employment
*
*
*
*
*


Other 
Businesses
1,220
1,210
1,210
1,240
1,225


Employment
*
6,490
*
*
*


Total 
Businesses
1,365
1,350
1,340
1,370
1,355


Employment
7,750
*
6,910
7,450
7,850


East Dunbartonshire 
Shop 
Businesses
25
30
25
30
35


Employment
110
150
120
200
210


Bank 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
0
0
0
0
0


Post Office 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
0
0
0
0
0


Other 
Businesses
255
260
265
270
275


Employment
1,700
1,620
1,450
1,770
1,710


Total 
Businesses
280
290
295
300
305


Employment
1,810
1,760
1,570
1,970
1,930


East Lothian 
Shop 
Businesses
95
100
90
95
85


Employment
330
340
310
320
330


Bank 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
*
*
*
*
*


Post Office 
Businesses
5
0
0
5
0


Employment
*
*
*
*
*


Other 
Businesses
955
975
980
995
1,005


Employment
5,810
5,570
5,510
5,680
5,820


Total 
Businesses
1,055
1,080
1,075
1,095
1,095


Employment
6,150
5,920
5,830
6,010
6,180


East Renfrewshire 
Shop 
Businesses
15
10
10
10
15


Employment
*
*
*
*
*


Bank 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
0
0
0
0
0


Post Office 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
0
0
0
0
0


Other 
Businesses
230
240
230
230
235


Employment
*
*
*
*
*


Total 
Businesses
240
250
240
245
250


Employment
1,090
1,060
1,380
1,630
1,600


Edinburgh, City of 
Shop 
Businesses
40
40
45
55
60


Employment
470
310
380
600
400


Bank 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
*
*
*
*
*


Post Office 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
0
0
0
0
0


Other 
Businesses
450
445
450
450
465


Employment
*
*
*
*
*


Total 
Businesses
495
490
500
505
525


Employment
7,600
7,080
6,930
7,870
7,900


Falkirk 
Shop 
Businesses
55
60
55
65
60


Employment
190
180
170
190
190


Bank 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
0
0
0
0
0


Post Office 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
0
0
0
0
0


Other 
Businesses
450
440
455
455
465


Employment
3,030
3,030
3,190
2,790
2,860


Total 
Businesses
505
500
515
520
530


Employment
3,210
3,200
3,360
2,980
3,050


Fife 
Shop 
Businesses
270
270
235
250
245


Employment
2,150
2,220
1,070
2,220
2,150


Bank 
Businesses
5
5
5
5
5


Employment
*
*
*
*
*


Post Office 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
0
0
0
0
0


Other 
Businesses
2,250
2,295
2,350
2,345
2,400


Employment
*
*
*
*
*


Total 
Businesses
2,525
2,570
2,590
2,600
2,650


Employment
14,390
14,890
13,760
15,070
15,790


Glasgow City 
Shop 
Businesses
10
10
10
10
10


Employment
*
*
*
*
*


Bank 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
0
0
0
0
0


Post Office 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
0
0
0
0
0


Other 
Businesses
50
50
50
55
60


Employment
*
*
*
*
*


Total 
Businesses
60
60
60
65
70


Employment
740
920
900
1,030
1,020


Highland 
Shop 
Businesses
610
630
635
655
665


Employment
3,080
3,140
3,030
3,220
3,300


Bank 
Businesses
20
20
20
20
30


Employment
150
150
150
130
170


Post Office 
Businesses
75
75
75
70
75


Employment
220
220
210
210
240


Other 
Businesses
5,925
5,990
6,040
6,085
6,050


Employment
22,550
22,770
22,410
22,730
22,930


Total 
Businesses
6,630
6,715
6,765
6,830
6,815


Employment
26,000
26,270
25,790
26,300
26,630


Inverclyde 
Shop 
Businesses
10
20
20
30
25


Employment
*
80
70
70
60


Bank 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
0
0
0
0
0


Post Office 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
0
0
*
*
0


Other 
Businesses
165
175
170
175
180


Employment
*
910
*
*
1,120


Total 
Businesses
175
195
190
205
205


Employment
860
990
1,150
1,200
1,190


Midlothian 
Shop 
Businesses
45
45
45
50
55


Employment
160
160
150
160
170


Bank 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
0
0
0
0
0


Post Office 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
0
0
0
0
0


Other 
Businesses
465
485
490
520
550


Employment
2,600
3,040
3,030
3,020
2,940


Total 
Businesses
510
530
535
565
605


Employment
2,760
3,200
3,180
3,180
3,110


Moray 
Shop 
Businesses
120
130
125
145
150


Employment
440
450
430
510
530


Bank 
Businesses
5
5
5
5
10


Employment
*
*
*
*
*


Post Office 
Businesses
5
5
5
5
5


Employment
*
*
*
*
*


Other 
Businesses
1,025
1,035
1,105
1,440
1,475


Employment
4,490
4,400
4,290
5,760
5,850


Total 
Businesses
1,150
1,175
1,240
1,595
1,640


Employment
4,970
4,890
4,770
6,320
6,440


North Ayrshire 
Shop 
Businesses
95
95
90
100
100


Employment
320
340
320
330
370


Bank 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
0
0
0
0
0


Post Office 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
0
0
0
0
0


Other 
Businesses
915
925
925
930
920


Employment
5,980
5,900
5,840
5,750
5,680


Total 
Businesses
1,010
1,020
1,020
1,025
1,020


Employment
6,300
6,240
6,160
6,080
6,050


North Lanarkshire 
Shop 
Businesses
95
90
80
75
80


Employment
420
400
440
460
370


Bank 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
*
*
0
*
*


Post Office 
Businesses
0
0
0
5
0


Employment
0
0
*
*
0


Other 
Businesses
675
680
700
720
710


Employment
*
*
*
6,000
*


Total 
Businesses
770
770
785
800
790


Employment
6,520
6,690
7,080
6,550
6,240


Orkney Islands 
Shop 
Businesses
65
65
65
65
70


Employment
250
210
240
230
260


Bank 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
*
*
*
*
*


Post Office 
Businesses
20
20
20
20
20


Employment
40
40
40
40
30


Other 
Businesses
1,285
1,265
1,265
1,260
1,215


Employment
*
*
*
*
*


Total 
Businesses
1,375
1,350
1,350
1,345
1,305


Employment
3,970
3,900
4,010
4,050
3,950


Perth and Kinross 
Shop 
Businesses
335
335
330
335
315


Employment
1,470
1,510
1,450
1,470
1,350


Bank 
Businesses
10
10
10
10
10


Employment
*
*
*
*
*


Post Office 
Businesses
5
5
5
5
5


Employment
*
*
*
*
*


Other 
Businesses
3,075
3,130
3,100
3,120
3,125


Employment
11,640
11,950
12,300
12,540
12,580


Total 
Businesses
3,425
3,480
3,440
3,465
3,455


Employment
13,200
13,550
13,810
14,060
13,980


Renfrewshire 
Shop 
Businesses
35
35
30
30
30


Employment
720
720
290
690
280


Bank 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
0
0
0
0
0


Post Office 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
0
0
0
0
0


Other 
Businesses
360
370
385
365
360


Employment
4,700
5,460
5,580
4,070
3,640


Total 
Businesses
400
410
415
400
390


Employment
5,420
6,190
5,870
4,760
3,920


The Scottish Borders 
Shop 
Businesses
245
245
235
240
260


Employment
930
930
870
910
950


Bank 
Businesses
5
5
5
5
5


Employment
*
*
*
*
*


Post Office 
Businesses
5
5
5
5
5


Employment
*
*
*
*
*


Other 
Businesses
2,935
2,960
2,910
2,925
3,025


Employment
12,460
12,530
12,120
11,500
12,020


Total 
Businesses
3,190
3,215
3,155
3,175
3,295


Employment
13,440
13,520
13,040
12,450
13,040


Shetland Islands 
Shop 
Businesses
55
65
65
60
60


Employment
260
270
280
270
260


Bank 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
0
0
0
0
0


Post Office 
Businesses
20
20
20
15
15


Employment
50
40
50
*
*


Other 
Businesses
965
970
980
975
925


Employment
3,330
3,360
3,600
*
*


Total 
Businesses
1,040
1,055
1,065
1,055
1,000


Employment
3,640
3,680
3,930
4,080
3,840


South Ayrshire 
Shop 
Businesses
80
80
80
75
85


Employment
820
270
290
280
320


Bank 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
0
0
0
0
0


Post Office 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
5


Employment
0
0
0
0
*


Other 
Businesses
1,005
1,015
1,015
1,005
995


Employment
6,560
6,420
6,320
5,170
*


Total 
Businesses
1,090
1,095
1,095
1,085
1,085


Employment
7,380
6,700
6,610
5,460
5,780


South Lanarkshire 
Shop 
Businesses
200
185
185
185
165


Employment
990
820
800
840
770


Bank 
Businesses
5
5
5
5
5


Employment
*
*
*
*
*


Post Office 
Businesses
5
5
5
5
5


Employment
*
*
*
*
*


Other 
Businesses
1,800
1,785
1,805
1,845
1,815


Employment
10,340
10,040
10,320
11,140
11,260


Total 
Businesses
2,005
1,980
2,000
2,040
1,990


Employment
11,390
10,930
11,200
12,050
12,090


Stirling 
Shop 
Businesses
185
190
190
200
200


Employment
790
760
800
850
830


Bank 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
5


Employment
*
*
*
*
*


Post Office 
Businesses
10
15
15
15
15


Employment
*
*
*
*
*


Other 
Businesses
1,500
1,505
1,535
1,535
1,560


Employment
6,640
6,540
7,120
6,730
6,640


Total 
Businesses
1,700
1,710
1,740
1,750
1,780


Employment
7,490
7,370
7,980
7,660
7,550


West Dunbartonshire 
Shop 
Businesses
5
5
5
5
5


Employment
*
*
*
*
*


Bank 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
0
0
0
0
0


Post Office 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
0
0
0
0
0


Other 
Businesses
85
90
90
90
95


Employment
*
*
*
*
*


Total 
Businesses
95
95
95
95
100


Employment
380
350
360
340
400


West Lothian 
Shop 
Businesses
80
80
75
70
75


Employment
360
420
350
270
280


Bank 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
0
0
0
0
0


Post Office 
Businesses
0
0
0
0
0


Employment
0
0
0
0
0


Other 
Businesses
730
730
740
720
735


Employment
11,770
12,280
14,300
9,900
9,190


Total 
Businesses
810
815
810
790
810


Employment
12,130
12,710
14,650
10,170
9,460


Western Isles 
Shop 
Businesses
65
65
70
75
75


Employment
230
230
200
260
270


Bank 
Businesses
5
5
0
5
5


Employment
*
*
0
*
*


Post Office 
Businesses
25
25
20
20
25


Employment
50
50
40
50
50


Other 
Businesses
760
745
720
695
675


Employment
*
*
2,430
*
*


Total 
Businesses
850
840
810
795
780


Employment
3,080
2,780
2,670
2,730
2,900


Scotland total(rural areas) 
Shop 
Businesses
4,150
4,220
4,050
4,275
4,345


Employment
19,990
19,490
17,620
20,700
20,440


Bank 
Businesses
80
80
75
90
115


Employment
540
530
510
520
620


Post Office 
Businesses
225
230
220
225
225


Employment
680
670
710
790
700


Other 
Businesses
42,385
42,760
43,165
45,850
46,135


Employment
209,110
211,270
213,090
218,800
220,630


Total 
Businesses
46,835
47,280
47,510
50,435
50,815


Employment
230,320
231,955
231,920
240,810
242,390



  Notes:

  1. *Denotes disclosive data. The Office for National Statistics regulations do not permit us to publish employment details for a group of less than 20 businesses. Additional data also has to be suppressed so employment details cannot be calculated by deduction.

  2. Counts of the number of businesses are rounded to the nearest five and employment figures are rounded to the nearest 10. This means counts of one or two businesses will appear as zero.

  3. Totals may not equal the sum of the constituent parts due to rounding.

Scottish Natural Heritage

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether raptor study groups, funded by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to monitor nests, are obliged to disclose nest sites to SNH.

Lewis Macdonald: This is an operational matter for Scottish Natural Heritage.

Skye Bridge

Chris Ballance (South of Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-12683 by Nicol Stephen on 20 December 2004 and in light of the abolition of tolls on the Skye Bridge, whether it has calculated how much the abolition of tolls cost and, if this calculation has not been made, when it expects it will do so.

Nicol Stephen: The final cost for ending the tolls on Skye Bridge as agreed in the Termination Agreement was dependent upon the calculation of the corporation tax element. The corporation tax has now been agreed and the total cost is £26.75 million which is very close to my previous announcement that stated the ending of the tolls on Skye Bridge would cost around £27 million. This is the total amount as there is no VAT to be paid.

Special Educational Needs

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the position is in respect of funding for the additional support needs advocacy services scheme pending the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 coming into force.

Euan Robson: I refer the member to the answers to questions S2W-15099 and S2W-15100 on 22 March 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament/webapp/wa.search .

Special Educational Needs

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations applied for funding under the additional support needs advocacy services scheme; which were successful, and how much was awarded to each successful organisation.

Euan Robson: Seven organisations applied for funding under the one-year (2005-06) additional support needs advocacy pilots scheme. The five successful organisations are Children in Scotland (£129,881), Edinburgh Youth Social Inclusion Partnership (£36,000), Partners in Advocacy (£40,000), Partners in Play (£31,000) and Parent to Parent Tayside (£12,940). The two unsuccessful organisations were Afasic Scotland and the Equity Group.

Special Educational Needs

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider reopening applications for the additional support needs advocacy services scheme, given that the deadline for applications was 6 December 2004 and the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 has not yet come into force.

Euan Robson: Consideration of applications under the one-year additional support needs advocacy pilots scheme is now complete. Successful applicants have been informed and the exercise will not be reopened. For details of these organisations and awards, I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-15099 on 22 March 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament/webapp/wa.search .

Sport

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of the £230 million investment in new sports facilities.

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have secured funding for projects under the National Facilities Strategy; how much funding each project has received, and what the timescale is for completion of each project.

Patricia Ferguson: The Executive and  sportscotland has awarded £49.5 million to the 10 successful bids made under the National and Regional Sports Facilities Strategy. This contribution, along with that from the funding partners, will see a total investment of up to £230 million in new and refurbished sports facilities in Scotland if all 10 projects are taken forward and completed as planned. The following table sets out the breakdown of investment for each project.

  

Lead Applicant
Project
Contribution from


Exchequer and Lottery Sports Fund
Lead Applicant and its other Funding Partners
Expected Completion Date


Falkirk Council
Westfield Stadium
£3,000,000
£5,000000
March 2007


Stirling Council: 
Forthbank
£2,500,000
£18,500000
October 2007


City of Edinburgh Council: 
Sighthill Park
£7,000,000
£44,000,000
May 2009


Hunters Hall
£6,000,000
£26,000,000
May 2009


Royal Commonwealth Pool
£4,000,000
£27,000,000
January 2009


Aberdeen City Council: 
Linksfield
£5,000,000
£17,000,000
October 2008


Glasgow City Council:
East End
£9,500,000
£15,000,000
March 2009


Scotstoun
£4,500,000
£7,000,000
May 2007


Toryglen
£3,000,000
£8,000,000
September 2007


North Lanarkshire Council
Ravenscraig
£5,000,000
£13,000,000
August 2007

Telecommunications

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether TETRA base stations produce a continuous transmission or whether there is any modulation of the carrier signal.

Nicol Stephen: TETRA uses TDMA (Time Division Multiplexing) and the modulation system used is a digital modulation system called Differential Quadrature Phase Shift Keying.

Telecommunications

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will now list the locations of TETRA O2 Airwave transmitters (a) in the Highlands and Islands and (b) within a mile of the Parliament, showing Ordnance Survey co-ordinates.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive does not hold a list of TETRA O2 base stations.

Transport

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of total transport expenditure it expects to invest in (a) roads, (b) railways, (c) bus services and (d) other transport schemes in each of the next three years.

Nicol Stephen: The funding allocated to Transport Portfolio was published in the Draft Budget 2005-06, a copy of which is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 34133)

  The following table represents the percentage funding allocated to specific modes of transport from the total transport expenditure over the next three spending years 2005-06 to 2007-08 at Level 2 spending plans.

  

 
%
Footnotes
2005-06
Plans
2006-07
Plans
2007-08
Plans


A
Motorways and trunk roads
 
30%
29%
27%


B
Rail Services in Scotland
1
25%
20%
20%


C
Bus Services and Concessionary Fares in Scotland 
 
8%
14%
13%


D
Other Transport (including major rail projects)
2
37%
37%
40%


 
100%
100%
100%



  Notes:

  1. The published Draft Budget 2005-06 spending allocations and percentage share of Transport Programme Expenditure presented in the table above, does not reflect the recent announcement of the UK Rail Review. Additional funding will be transferred to Scottish Executive with responsibilities being transferred to Scottish ministers.

  2. Funding for the Transport Major Rail projects is included within the Integrated Transport Fund [ITF] spending plans and this is reflected in the increase of Other Transport in the table above.

Transport

Chris Ballance (South of Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-12454 by Nicol Stephen on 8 December 2004, why the expenditure in 2003-04 under the Integrated Transport Fund budget is stated to be £56.5 million plus £3.7 million, whereas the budget in Table 8.08 of Draft Budget 2005-06 states that the expenditure is £150 million, and what the remainder of the budgeted money was spent on.

Nicol Stephen: The figure of £150 million shown as the 2003-04 Integrated Transport Fund (ITF) budget figure in Table 8.08 of Draft Budget 2005-06 is a comparative figure only, as is the figure for 2002-03. The final ITF budget provision for 2003-04, as shown in Scotland’s Budget Documents: The 2003-04 Spring Budget Revision to the Budget (Scotland) (No 4) Act for the year ending 31 March 2004 , was £100.8 million.

  The figures given in answer to question S2W-12454, answered on 8 December 2004, related to actual grants paid from the ITF specifically to local authorities in respect of the financial years 2002-03 and 2003-04. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament/webapp/wa.search.

  As well as grants awarded to local authorities, grant payments have been made from the ITF under section 70 of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 to other parties such as the Strategic Rail Authority. All such payments are detailed in the Report by Scottish Ministers to Parliament – Grants Paid Under Section 70 of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 for the relevant financial year. For 2003-04, these payments totalled £82.7 million.